System and method for pre-configuration using after point of sale information

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a system for preconfiguring an information handling system which includes: a configurator, a registration and customization module, a store registration and customization information module and a database. The configurator configures a system with options selected according to user input. Information relating to registration and customization is obtained by the registration and customization module for the information handling system. The store registration and customization information module stores the information relating to the registration and customization on the information handling system. The database receives from and supplies information to the configurator, the registration and customization module and the store registration and customization information module. Further, the invention relates to a method of preconfiguring an information handling system which configures a system with options selected according to user input. Information is obtained relating to registration for the information handling system. The information relating to the registration is stored in a database and loaded from the database onto a particular information handling system while fabricating the particular information handling system. Also, the invention relates to a system configuration store for preconfiguring an information handling system which includes means for configuring a system with options selected according to user input; means for obtaining information relating to registration information for the information handling system; means for storing the information relating to the registration information in a database; and, means for loading the information relating to registration information from the database onto a particular information handling system while fabricating the particular information handling system.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to build to order systems, and moreparticularly, pre-configuring a system using after point of saleinformation.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] As the value and use of information continues to increase,individuals and businesses seek additional ways to process and storeinformation. One option available to users is information handlingsystems. An information handling system generally processes, compiles,stores, and/or communicates information or data for business, personal,or other purposes thereby allowing users to take advantage of the valueof the information. Because technology and information handling needsand requirements vary between different users or applications,information handling systems may also vary regarding what information ishandled, how the information is handled, how much information isprocessed, stored, or communicated, and how quickly and efficiently theinformation may be processed, stored, or communicated. The variations ininformation handling systems allow for information handling systems tobe general or configured for a specific user or specific use such asfinancial transaction processing, airline reservations, enterprise datastorage, or global communications. In addition, information handlingsystems may include a variety of hardware and software components thatmay be configured to process, store, and communicate information and mayinclude one or more computer systems, data storage systems, andnetworking systems.

[0005] It is known to order information handling systems either via thetelephone or over the internet. It is also known to custom configuresystems that are ordered via either method.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] In accordance with the present invention, pre-configuring aninformation handling system with registration or customizationinformation is described.

[0007] In one embodiment, the invention relates to a system forpreconfiguring an information handling system which includes: aconfigurator, a registration and customization module, a storeregistration and customization information module and a database. Theconfigurator configures a system with options selected according to userinput. Information relating to registration and customization isobtained by the registration and customization module for theinformation handling system. The store registration and customizationinformation module stores the information relating to the registrationand customization on the information handling system. The databasereceives from and supplies information to the configurator, theregistration and customization module and the store registration andcustomization information module.

[0008] In another embodiment, the invention relates to a method ofpreconfiguring an information handling system which configures a systemwith options selected according to user input. Information is obtainedrelating to registration for the information handling system. Theinformation relating to the registration is stored in a database andloaded from the database onto a particular information handling systemwhile fabricating the particular information handling system.

[0009] In another embodiment, the invention relates to a systemconfiguration store for preconfiguring an information handling systemwhich includes means for configuring a system with options selectedaccording to user input; means for obtaining information relating toregistration information for the information handling system; means forstoring the information relating to the registration information in adatabase; and, means for loading the information relating toregistration information from the database onto a particular informationhandling system while fabricating the particular information handlingsystem.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] The present invention may be better understood, and its numerousobjects, features and advantages made apparent to those skilled in theart by referencing the accompanying drawings. The use of the samereference number throughout the several figures designates a like orsimilar element.

[0011]FIG. 1 shows access to a system configuration store.

[0012]FIG. 2 shows a system block diagram of an information handlingsystem.

[0013]FIG. 3 shows a schematic block diagram of the operation of thesystem configuration store FIG. 4 shows a schematic block diagram of thesystem configuration store.

[0014]FIG. 5 shows a flow diagram of the configuration of an informationhandling system to include the customization features.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0015] Referring to FIG. 1, a customer can access the systemconfiguration store 110 using any suitable computer equipment 120, viathe Internet 122. The computer equipment 120 may include a display 130,computer 132, keyboard 134, and pointing device 136. Display 130 is usedfor displaying the various pages of the on-line store while a customeris using the on-line store. Alternately, a customer can access thesystem configuration store 110 via a telephone 140 which is coupled tothe system configuration store via a telephone network 142. In the caseof a telephone access to the system configuration store, the customerspeaks with a sales representative who obtains the configurationinformation from the customer and in turn enters the information intothe system configuration store 110 to configure a system.

[0016] Referring to FIG. 2, a system block diagram of an informationhandling system 200 is shown having features thereof configured inaccordance with the system configuration store 110 as discussed herein.The information handling system 200 includes a processor 202,input/output (I/O) devices, such as a display, a keyboard, a mouse, andassociated controllers, collectively designed by a reference numeral204, a hard disk and drive 206, and other storage devices, such as afloppy disk and drive and other memory devices, collectively designatedby a reference numeral 208, and various other subsystems, collectivelydesignated by a reference numeral 210, all interconnected via one ormore buses, shown collectively as a bus 212.

[0017] For purposes of this invention, an information handling systemmay include any instrumentality or aggregate of instrumentalitiesoperable to compute, classify, process, transmit, receive, retrieve,originate, switch, store, display, manifest, detect, record, reproduce,handle, or utilize any form of information, intelligence, or data forbusiness, scientific, control, or other purposes. For example, aninformation handling system may be a personal computer, a networkstorage device, or any other suitable device and may vary in size,shape, performance, functionality, and price. The information handlingsystem may include random access memory (RAM), one or more processingresources such as a central processing unit (CPU) or hardware orsoftware control logic, ROM, and/or other types of nonvolatile memory.Additional components of the information handling system may include oneor more disk drives, one or more network ports for communicating withexternal devices as well as various input and output (I/O) devices, suchas a keyboard, a mouse, and a video display. The information handlingsystem may also include one or more buses operable to transmitcommunications between the various hardware components.

[0018] Referring to FIG. 3, when configuring a system on-line, thecustomer first interacts with a configurator 302 to configure a desiredsystem. After the system is configured, the customer proceeds to ashopping cart 304. After completing the information within the shoppingcart 304, the customer is provided with the option of enteringregistration information for services and customization information viaenter registration module 306. The customer then proceeds to checkout atcheckout module 308. After the customer checks out with the configuredinformation handling system, the customer is transferred to thank youmodule 310 where an expression of gratitude for purchasing the system ispresented. Alternately, if the customer elected to not enterregistration information, then the customer is provided with anotheropportunity to enter registration information for services andcustomization information at thank you module 311.

[0019] If the customer indicated a desire to enter registration andcustomization information, then after the thank you module 310 or thankyou module 311, the customer is transferred to store registration andcustomization module 312 during which the registration and customizationinformation is obtained, stored and linked to the system order. Afterthe information is stored, then when the information handling system isfabricated, the registration and customization information transfermodule 314 transfers the registration and customization information tothe customer's system during the software download portion of themanufacturing of the information handling system. Accordingly, theinformation handling system that is fabricated includes all theregistration and customization information provided by the customerduring the system configuration process.

[0020] Alternately, when configuring an information handling system viaa telephone purchase, the customer configures the system via a customersales representative at step 340. After configuring the system, thesales representative then presents the option of entering registrationand customization information onto the system via module 342. The saleto the customer then completes at step 344. If the customer indicated adesire to enter registration and customization information onto thesystem, then the representative obtains this information via module 342.This information is then stored and linked to the order via module 312and the registration and customization information is transferred to theindividual system via module 314.

[0021] Examples of registration information that are provided by thecustomer include services to which the customer is registered, eitherduring the order process or before the order process stared. Forexample, if a customer already had an internet provider, the informationrelating to the internet provided could be added to the systemconfiguration so that when the system is received by the customer all ofthe necessary set up requirements are preloaded on the system. Examplesof customization information that are customized by the customer includepre-configuration of application programs, screen appearance, displayoptions etc. In this way when the customer starts up the system, thescreen presentation is as the customer desires and the program optionsare as the customer desires.

[0022] Referring to FIG. 4, an on-line store is a component of anInternet website to which a customer may go to configure a particularinformation handling system, for example, according to desired optionsof the customer. An on-line store is one example of a systemconfiguration store 110. The on-line store is typically a subset of alarger Internet website. At the on-line store, a customer can select oneor more products in which the customer is interested. Upon selection ofa particular product, the on-line store presents the customer with theability to go to the product information for the particular product,customize the product, price the customized product, purchase theproduct, and other actions as discussed herein. While shopping happensin the website (i.e., selection of a particular kind of system by acustomer), when the customer is ready to purchase a customized system,the customer is then directed to that part of the website which theon-line store application controls.

[0023] An on-line store 410 for use in generating customer configuredinformation handling systems, e.g., customer configured computersystems, is shown. The on-line store 410 includes a welcome orintroductory module 412, a commerce application module 414, and a thankyou module 416. The on-line store 410 includes an on-line store userinterface which enables the system configuration, pricing, and orderingof an information handling system via the Internet. The commerceapplication 414 includes a configurator 418, shopping cart 420, acheckout module 422, a services activation module 424, a registrationand customization module 426 and database 428. The database 428 providesinformation to the configurator 418, shopping cart 420, checkout module422, services activation module 424 and registration and customizationmodule 426. The configurator 418 includes a pricing module 428, a viewmodule 430, a lead time warning module 432, a validation (orcompatibility) warning module 434, and a merchandising module 436. Thevarious modules of the configurator 418 are driven by data from thedatabase 428, and thus the configurator 418, shopping cart 420, checkoutmodule 422 and services activation module 424 are all linked to thedatabase 428.

[0024] In operation of the on-line store 410, the welcome module 412presents a welcome page 412, the configurator 418 presents aconfigurator page, the shopping cart 420 presents a shopping cart page,the checkout module 422 presents a checkout page, the servicesactivation module 424 presents a services activation page, theregistration and customization module 426 provides a registration andcustomization page and the thank you module 416 presents a thank youpage. The welcome page includes a static page and generally residesoutside of the commerce application 414. The configurator page, shoppingcart page, checkout page, services activation page and registration andcustomization page are within the commerce application and useinformation provided by the database. The checkout includes a paymentfeature, delivery feature, personal versus business feature, andinstructional text features (i.e., how to fill out an on-line form.)

[0025] The welcome page is typically an introductory page and includes alink into the on-line store 410. The welcome page is typically a staticwelcome page. Upon completion of configuration of a system, istransferred to a services activation page in which the customer isprovided an opportunity to activate various services such as internetservice or content services such as music services. After completion ofthe services activation, the customer is transferred to the registrationand customization page. After completion of the registration andcustomization, the customer is transferred to a checkout page. Aftercompletion of the checkout, the customer is transferred to a staticthank you page. The thank you page provides a message of gratitude tothe customer for having placed the order or for visiting the on-linestore.

[0026] Aspects of the configurator 418 which interact with database 428are shown in FIG. 4. In essence, the entire commerce application 414interacts with the database. The configurator 418, shopping cart 420,checkout module 422, services activation module 424 and registration andcustomization module are each part of the commerce application 414 andinteract with the database 428. For example, with the shopping cart 420,additional merchandising information associated with a particular systemwhich has been configured and placed in the shopping cart by an on-linestore customer can be provided.

[0027] Also for example, various services may be provided for order bythe customer by the services activation module 424 based upon the typeof system ordered as well as components that are included within thesystem ordered. Additionally, by providing the services activationmodule within the commerce application 414, the customer continues theexperience a similar customer experience and the system provider is ableto use the information from the database 428 and to maintain controlover the customer contact. By maintaining control over the customercontact the system provider is able to determine what services areactivated and to maintain accurate and up to date records of the serviceactivation.

[0028] When a purchase is processed via the telephone, then the customerrepresentative interacts with a system similar to configurator 418.

[0029] Referring to FIG. 5, when registration or customizationinformation is obtained either via on-line sales 510 or via off-line(e.g., telephone) sales 512, the information is provided to an ordermanagement system 520 which interacts with the factory in which thesystem is manufactured. The order management system 520 stores thisinformation to a database 530 as well as to a Bill of Materials (BOM)532 which is associated with a particular system being manufactured. Itwill be appreciated that one or both the database 530 or the BOM 532 maybe used to transfer the information from the customer order to aparticular information handling system. The information is then storedin a system descriptor record (SDR) which is stored on the memory of theinformation handling system 542 being manufactured. Accordingly, theregistration or customization information that is obtained from thecustomer is stored on the system that is manufactured for that customer.

[0030] Other Embodiments

[0031] Other embodiments are within the following claims.

[0032] For example, it will be appreciated that the order in which thecustomer is presented with the services activation page, theregistration and customization page and check out page may vary. E.g.,the customer may checkout before accessing the services activation page.Alternately, the services activation module may not be presented at all.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system for preconfiguring an informationhandling system comprising: a configurator, the configurator configuringa system with options selected according to user input; a registrationand customization module, the registration and customization moduleobtaining information relating to registration and customization for theinformation handling system; a store registration and customizationinformation module, the store registration and customization informationmodule storing the information relating to the registration andcustomization on the information handling system; and, a database, thedatabase receiving information from and supplying information to theconfigurator, the registration and customization module and the storeregistration and customization information module.
 2. The system ofclaim 1 wherein: the information relating to registration andcustomization information is pre-loaded onto the information handlingsystem when the information handling system is fabricated.
 3. The systemof claim 1 wherein: the configurator and the registration andcustomization module provide a customer with a consistent customerexperience.
 4. The system of claim 1 further comprising a serviceactivation module, the service activation module enabling a user toactivate services based upon the options selected according to userinput, the activated services then providing registration information.5. The system of claim 1 wherein the registration information isobtained on-line.
 6. The system of claim 1 wherein the registrationinformation is obtained via the telephone.
 7. A method of preconfiguringan information handling system comprising: configuring a system withoptions selected according to user input; obtaining information relatingto registration information for the information handling system; storingthe information relating to the registration information in a database;and, loading the information relating to registration information fromthe database onto a particular information handling system whilefabricating the particular information handling system.
 8. The method ofclaim 7 wherein: the configuring and the obtaining registrationinformation provide a customer with a consistent customer experience. 9.The method of claim 7 further comprising enabling a user to activateservices based upon the options selected according to user input, theactivated services having corresponding registration information. 10.The method of claim 7 wherein the registration information is obtainedon-line.
 11. The method of claim 7 wherein the registration informationis obtained via the telephone.
 12. A system configuration store forpreconfiguring an information handling system comprising: means forconfiguring a system with options selected according to user input;means for obtaining information relating to registration information forthe information handling system; means for storing the informationrelating to the registration information in a database; and, means forloading the information relating to registration information from thedatabase onto a particular information handling system while fabricatingthe particular information handling system.
 13. The system of claim 12wherein: the means for configuring and the means for obtainingregistration information provide a customer with a consistent customerexperience.
 14. The system of claim 12 further comprising means forenabling a user to activate services based upon the options selectedaccording to user input, the activated services then providingregistration information.
 15. The system of claim 12 wherein theregistration information is obtained on-line.
 16. The system of claim 12wherein the registration information is obtained via the telephone.